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Premiership Rugby issues statement on Scotland player release versus France
Talks are still ongoing between Premiership Rugby and the Six Nations regarding the release of English-based Scotland players for the rearranged March 26 match between France and the Scots at the Stade de France.
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The round three Guinness Six Nations match was originally set to go ahead in Paris on February 28 but it was postponed due to a virus outbreak in the French camp that affected a dozen players and four members of management, including head coach Fabien Galthie.
Six Nations officials finally confirmed on Thursday of this week that the France versus Scotland re-fixture would definitely be going ahead eight days later, but there was no update on the status of whether the English and French-based players in Gregor Townsend’s squad would be released for this game as it falls outside the current Test window.
Seven of the players involved in the Scotland 23 for this Saturday’s game against Italy are based in England and all would miss out on next Friday’s re-fixture unless permission is received from Premiership Rugby.
Seven days out from the game, there was still no certainty what might yet transpire after Premiership Rugby issued a statement on Friday evening that confirmed a change in the kick-off for a live TV English league game next weekend but offered no confirmation regarding the player release situation.
“It’s the biggest tournament in world rugby outside the World Cup and we obviously don’t want to go into a game where we are not allowed to pick certain players.”
– reports @Gav_S_Harper ??? #FRAvSCO #sixnationshttps://t.co/Seyoi86vry
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 18, 2021
“Premiership Rugby can confirm that it is changing the kick-off time for next weekend’s big West Country derby between Gloucester and Exeter, which is live on BT Sport,” read the statement.
“The match was due to kick off at 7.45pm on Friday, March 26, but after the Six Nations committee last night announced the rearranged date and time for France vs Scotland, we have no alternative but to stage Gloucester vs Exeter earlier at 5.30pm to avoid a clash of televised rugby.
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“Collaborative talks are ongoing between ourselves, the Scottish Rugby Union and the Six Nations committee regarding the release of players who are committed to their clubs during a weekend which was not designated for international rugby.”
A Premiership Rugby spokesperson added: “We do understand that we are in unprecedented times as sport faces its biggest crisis from the Covid-19 pandemic. In the spirit of collaboration, we continue to negotiate around the release of players, with appropriate compensation for the disruption to the clubs and the competition still to be agreed.
“We have a consistent and long-held policy only to release non-England players for matches that fall under World Rugby’s regulation nine which governs player release for international rugby.
“This rearranged fixture is not covered by regulation nine but our clubs are considering making an exception to this policy, with reasonable reimbursement, as we are in unprecedented times.
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“We have important Premiership games scheduled for next weekend and the withdrawal of players at short notice creates many issues for us, including commitments to our partners, broadcasters and supporters. We have already accommodated a kick-off change and want to find a way forward on the player issue.
“We will continue to collaborate with the Scottish Rugby Union and the Six Nations committee over the rearranged match and we hope to resolve the issue.”
One Premiership boss has admitted he is very much in the dark about the unconfirmed March 26 Six Nations re-fixture and what it means for his club#SixNations #FRAvSCO #PremRugbyhttps://t.co/2jnlyNwReY
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) March 17, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments